Madison – In a prepared statement, Democratic candidates for Madison Borough Council, Council President Carmela Vitale and DDC Commissioner, John Hoover, point to the weekly Farmers’ Market as an example of the many exciting events that the Downtown Development Commission (DDC) brings to Madison throughout the year.

Vitale and Hoover said they agree that “there is nothing like the quality ‘Jersey Fresh’ produce available at the Market.” The Madison Farmers’ Market, which is now in its twenty-fifth year, is open from 2 to 7 pm every Thursday until October 26 and is located on Central Avenue between Main Street and Cook Avenue.”

“In addition to the farm stands, the market offers many different vendor and community group booths as well as free live music,” stated Vitale. “As its Logistics and Onsite Marketing Manager, John is a fixture at the Market. He can be found there every week greeting and advising vendors and customers, distributing and marking Frequent Shopper Cards, promoting the Market and other Borough events, and helping with the Market set up and tear down activities.”

Hoover continued, “As much as I promote the Market, I want to remind our residents that this is only one of many fine DDC events that brighten up our town each year. In the spring, the DDC sponsors Madison’s May Day ‘spring clean-up’ project. It is also a co-sponsor with the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce of the ‘Taste of Madison’ food and wine showcase held early in March. Together with the Madison Arts and Culture Alliance (MACA), the DDC sponsors the Madison sidewalk Gallery and Auction, and in the fall, it sponsors the Madison Storytellers Festival and the Bottle Hill Day Street Fair, held annually on the first Saturday in October.”

In addition to these major events, the DDC has four standing committees that work throughout the year to enhance the downtown district: the University Relations Committee, the Marketing and Economic Development Committee, the Public Improvement Committee, and the Sign and Façade Committee, which reviews and submits recommendations on all sign permit applications for commercial uses.

In addition to his role as a commissioner and DDC Secretary, Hoover serves as Chair of the Sign and Façade Committee. He also served on the Downtown Revitalization Committee that oversaw the recent Urbanomics revitalization study and will now be reviewing and prioritizing recommendations from the study.

“The decision to conduct a comprehensive study of the downtown and to hire an outside consulting firm was a joint decision of the DDC and the Borough Council,” noted Vitale. “As a member of the Council, I supported that decision. And now, the implementation of some of the study recommendations, particularly in the areas regulation and zoning, will be our responsibility.”

Vitale and Hoover concluded, “We enthusiastically support the many fine activities and events of the DDC and together, we invite all Madison residents and visitors to come down to Central Avenue and discover the fine offerings available every Thursday at the Farmers’ Market.”

Photo Caption:

Madison Downtown Development Commission (DDC) Commissioner John Hoover, Senior Citizens Advisory Committee representative Kaye Shaler, and Madison Borough Council President Carmela Vitale all agree that there is nothing like the quality ‘Jersey Fresh’ produce available at Madison’s Farmers’ Market. The Farmers’ Market, which is open from 2 to 7 pm every Thursday on Central Avenue between Main Street and Cook Avenue, is just one example of the many events sponsored by the Madison Downtown Development Commission (DDC) that are designed to attract residents and visitors to Madison’s downtown business district. Hoover and Vitale are running together as candidates for election to the Council in 2017.